Issue link: https://industrialmanagement.epubxp.com/i/285723
BY FARIBORZ GHADAR AND KATHLEEN LOUGHRAN Global tectonics Part 2 12 TRENDS CHANGING THE WORLD A decade has passed since we first conducted the Global Tectonics' study that identified 12 trends that would dramatically shape the future international business environment. Though many of our predictions are coming true, certain forces – such as the growth of social media – have had a much greater impact than expected. Given the rapid change the global business climate continually experiences, we have decided to update our initial study to better equip future leaders and to revisit the trends we identified that surprisingly remain the trends that thought leaders are most concerned about today. 1. Biotechnology 2. Nanotechnology 3. Information technology 4. Population 5. Urbanization 6. Disease and globalization 7. Resource management 8. Environmental degradation 9. Economic integration 10. Knowledge dissemination 11. Conflict 12. Governance EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Nanotechnology, the new frontier of conflict, already has attracted considerable investment by governments and private industry worldwide. When perfected, advanced nanotechnology will streamline production and reduce manufacturing costs in significant ways. It is expected that as early as 2015, the industry's global output will reach $2.4 trillion. According to a report issued by the National Science Foundation, "If nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter at the atomic level, at maturity achieves even a fraction of its promise, it will force the reassessment of global markets and economies and industries on a scale never experienced before in human history." 18 Industrial Management IM MarApr 2014.indd 18 3/24/14 12:13 PM